VAntage Point
Women Veterans can get help addressing their needs through VA programs
Believe it or not, many women Veterans do not self-identify as Veterans. According to Dr. Laura Miller, psychiatrist and medical director of reproductive mental health for the Veterans Health Administration, this is due in part to the misconception that if women did not engage in combat, they are not considered Veterans.
“Some women Veterans may be unaware of their eligibility for benefits or be hesitant to approach VA for care,” said Dr. Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, investigator with VA’s National Center on Homelessness among Veterans. “But women Veterans are eligible for the same VA programs and services as male Veterans, given that they meet other eligibility requirements.”